Nurse-Patient ratios in rehab?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 12, 2013

I work at a freestanding acute rehab hospital and the nurse/patient ratios vary greatly from shift to shift. I work 12-hout night shifts.

Each nurse might be assigned to as few as 7 patients or as many as 12 patients. It all depends on factors such as census, call-offs, call-ins, and so forth. And my workplace will not utilize agency nurses to fill the staffing needs under any circumstances.

coopman712 · May 13, 2013

I worked in a freestanding acute medical rehab as well and our numbers sound quite similar. I am still relatively new to it, so the 7-8 is sometimes a huge challenge for me, so the prospect of 12 seems scary to me. I know I have to get used to it, but I just feel like patients are coming in sicker and sicker these days so I wish they ratios were lower. I too work 12 hour nights. With all of the documentation required in addition to just passing meds, managing care, treatments and assessments, I find myself not being able to get everything done before my sift ends, so I wind up having to stay a little late like.

rnmelody · May 14, 2013

I work 12 hour day shift. I normally have 6-7 patients in the rehab unit. At times, we do have a charge nurse without patients but it is usually a big deal when I have to work with the normal patient load and be charge nurse as well. Usually it is a very challenging day when I have to deal with phone calls from admissions, deal with patients/ family , do room switching when necessary, do pt

Leah1423 · May 20, 2013

At my job, we work 8 hour shifts and have as little as 10 up to 21 patients each. I work 3-11 too which is when admissions come in. It's stressful plus it's my first job as a nurse!

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · May 23, 2013

How in the world do you all handle such heavy patient loads plus all the fun little extras that come from PT/OT/SLP, etc?? I work 7a-7p in acute rehab and per our medical director, we are never to have more than six patients per nurse (and it's been a while since I've had even that many).

Leah1423 · May 23, 2013

I would love my job if I only had 6 patients!! I had 15 tonight and two of which were admissions. I was there an hour past my scheduled time :/

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 24, 2013

Boog said:

How in the world do you all handle such heavy patient loads plus all the fun little extras that come from PT/OT/SLP etc?? I work 7a-7p in acute rehab and per our medical director, we are never to have more than six patients per nurse (and it's been a while since I've had even that many).

Keep in mind that some respondents work in SNF/nursing home rehab, so they're naturally going to have larger patient loads R/T not working in a hospital setting. They deal with the PT/OT/ST and moderate acuity rehab patients, but they get dumped on because of lower reimbursement rates for SNFs.

HammerheadNC · May 26, 2013

We currently have 5-6 patients:1 on both days and nights. We are a hospital based Inpatient Rehab

NurseFrustrated · Dec 1, 2013

Boog said:

How in the world do you all handle such heavy patient loads plus all the fun little extras that come from PT/OT/SLP etc?? I work 7a-7p in acute rehab and per our medical director, we are never to have more than six patients per nurse (and it's been a while since I've had even that many).

You are very lucky. I work at an inpatient rehab hospital as well. I work from 7a-7p but with 8 patients every day. I wish our medical director would set a limit of 6 for us. I don't think they care that much about patients or staff though unfortunately.

bridgetteRN · Aug 7, 2014

Boog said:

How in the world do you all handle such heavy patient loads plus all the fun little extras that come from PT/OT/SLP etc?? I work 7a-7p in acute rehab and per our medical director, we are never to have more than six patients per nurse (and it's been a while since I've had even that many).

I can't imagine safely caring for more than 6 patients at a time! I'm guessing the nurses with a 1:12 ratio have patients who are more medically stable/less acute than the patients my facility handles?? Not sure but some days, six patients on day shift seems like 5 too many!

NurseNancy75 · Aug 17, 2014

I work on an Acute rehab unit in a hospital. Most days our patient to nurse ratio is 1:4, however we only have two NA's on evenings and there sole purpose is to do baths. During the day and at night it is primary care. I cant imagine having anymore patients than that. The new age of patients are more demanding and sicker, and that doesnt take into account new computer systems that are head aches to work with. At times we have to get out patients up and have them dressed and ready for therapy, sometimes therapy helps us.